Obituaries

Posted November 29, 2007

Judith B. Jacobs

Judith B. Jacobs, of Niskayuna, N.Y., and Chilmark died on Nov. 1, at home in Niskayuna, at the age of 80. She died from the effects of Parkinson's disease, originally diagnosed 30 years ago. Judy was born in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Samuel and Miriam Booth. She attended Reed College in Portland, Ore., and received a masters degree in social work from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.

While at the University of Chicago she met and married Israel (Jake) Jacobs, her husband of 57 years. They moved to Niskayuna (Schenectady) in 1954. They made their first visit to the Vineyard in 1963 with close friends, staying at the Menemsha Inn in Chilmark. They returned to the Island in 1967 to Edgartown, and thereafter spent part of every summer and portions of the off-season every year through 2007. In 1974 they moved back to Chilmark into an upside-down house, "Summersault", built by Herb Hancock to designs by architects Feibes and Schmitt of Schenectady.

In Niskayuna, Judy was involved in community activities as a volunteer activist in the social service delivery system. She was active with the Schenectady League of Women Voters where she eventually chaired the judiciary committee and later served several terms as LWV president. Judy served on the Community Welfare Council, and became its president in 1971. The Council was the planning arm of the United Way and oversaw private welfare agencies. She oversaw the dissolution of the council and the creation of the Human Services Planning Council, a new organization to coordinate the services of both public and private welfare agencies. She long considered this one of her most important contributions to the community. Other boards on which she served included Freedom Forum, Planned Parenthood, and the New York State Citizens Council for Children, Youth, and their Families. The YWCA awarded Judy the Woman of Vision award in 1979 for her outstanding community service support. She also received the Susan B. Anthony Award from the LWV in 1983.

Judy is survived by her husband; her daughter, Eve Jacobs-Carnahan and son-in-law Paul Carnahan of Montpelier, Vt.; her son, Michael Jacobs and daughter-in-law Dorothy Bisbee of Concord; and five grandchildren.

Helen Grace Franklin. Click photo for larger version.

Helen Grace Franklin

Helen Grace (Carlson) Franklin died on Nov. 20, at her home in Vineyard Haven after a long illness with Parkinson's Disease. She was born in Boston on Oct. 2, 1921, the daughter of John Carlson and Helen (Shannon) Carlson. She grew up in Milton and was graduated from Milton High School in 1939.

Mrs. Franklin received a bachelor's degree in social work from Simmons College in Boston. She began working as a psychiatric social worker at Boston State Hospital, while pursuing a master's degree at Simmons College. In 1952 she married her husband, Robert Franklin, who was earning his medical doctor's degree at Boston University's School of Medicine. Mrs. Franklin received her master's degree in social work and her husband his doctorate in medicine in graduation ceremonies on the same day in May 1953.

The Franklins then moved to Chicago, Ill., where Dr. Franklin continued his medical training. Their son, Jeff, was born in August 1953. The Franklins returned to Milton in 1955, where their daughter, Martha, was born that year.

In 1956 the family moved to Westwood where Dr. Franklin started a pediatrics practice. Mrs. Franklin worked as a mother and a homemaker, and directed the business operation of her husband's practice. She later returned to social work at Boston State Hospital and also in private practice in a home office.

Sharing a love of animals, the Franklins provided a home to many domestic pets through the years, as well as a Wooly monkey. Mrs. Franklin and her children volunteered at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, and babysat baby gorillas and chimpanzees many weekends at home. Mrs. Franklin's interest in dog training led to her membership in the Charles River Dog Training Club, where her work with her standard poodle, Jasmine, resulted in some blue ribbons at competitions in Bermuda and at the Agricultural Fair on Martha's Vineyard.

Mrs. Franklin and her husband spent summers on Martha's Vineyard starting in 1962. They built a home in Vineyard Haven near Lagoon Pond in 1968, retiring to live on the Island full-time in 1999. Dr. Franklin continues to practice part-time at Vineyard Pediatrics.

An active member of Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven, Mrs. Franklin served on the flower guild. She volunteered as a fundraiser for WGBH Radio and Television and served on the Tisbury Senior Center's board of directors. An avid bird watcher and gardener, Mrs. Franklin enjoyed membership in the Martha's Vineyard Garden Club.

Mrs. Franklin is survived by her husband, Robert; her son Jeffrey John Franklin of Ventura, Calif.; her daughter Martha Ruth Braunstein of Albany, N.Y.; her two grandchildren, Laura Alexis Braunstein of New Orleans, La., and Eric Daniel Braunstein, who attends Colby College in Waterville, Maine; and her brother, John Paul Carlson, of Littleton.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 pm, at Grace Episcopal Church, Woodlawn Avenue, Vineyard Haven, with a reception to follow. Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs is handling the arrangements. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for more information and to sign the online guest book.

Carl B. Anderson, 80, of Oak Bluffs, died on Nov. 20, at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. He was the husband of Ruth (Immelt) Anderson. He donated his body to Harvard Medical School. A full obituary will appear in a future edition of The Times.

Dorothy H. Magsam

Dorothy H. Magsam, a frequent visitor to Martha's Vineyard, died on Nov. 7, at the Maristhill Nursing home in Waltham, with her daughters by her side. She was 85 years old. Dorothy was the beloved mother of Cindy Krauss and dear and devoted grandmother to Melanie, Dorothy and Haley Krauss of Edgartown. She is also survived by son-in-law Richard Krauss of Edgartown; sons Bill and George Magsam; and daughter Cathy Firenze, all of Belmont; five other grandchildren, and one great-grandson. She was predeceased in 1999 by her husband of 50 years, Thomas Magsam.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Nov. 10, at St. Joseph's Church in Belmont. The funeral was officiated by the Rev. Michael R. Nagle of Good Shepard Parish on Martha's Vineyard. Burial was in Belmont Cemetery. For those who wish, contributions may be made in her memory to the American Diabetes Association, 333 Congress St., Boston, MA 02110.

Orland S. Alwardt. Click photo for larger version.

Orland S. Alwardt

Orland S. M. Alwardt died at the Massachusetts General Hospital on Nov. 22, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis and pneumonia.

Orlie, as he was best known to his many Vineyard friends, was born in Oak Bluffs on March 3, 1933 to Frank and Lottie Alwardt, part of one of the Island's largest families at the time. His parents, sisters Anita, Freda and Dora, and brothers Carl, Henry, Herman, Robert, Frank, Madison and Karl predeceased him.

He worked as a mechanic for Bernard's Garage in Oak Bluffs and was later employed by the Town of Oak Bluffs as the head mechanic for the Highway Department for 20 years. He also served as a volunteer firefighter and a Lieutenant for many years on Engine 2. He married Mary Ann King on September 21,1957 and together raised four children in their home on Uncas Avenue.

Orlie loved living his life on the Vineyard and was known for his willingness to lend a hand and share his great sense of humor with his many friends. Orlie could always be heard whistling a tune, and it was a joy for him to hear his son, and his grandchildren following in his love of whistling. He enjoyed traveling during his retirement years to such locations as New Hampshire (a favorite fall trip he had just recently taken), Las Vegas, the Bahamas, Washington, D.C., Disney World and Nova Scotia. He was an avid bird watcher, loved to shellfish and enjoyed the craft of chair caning.

Orlie will be sadly missed by his companion Karla Martel, his cat Patches, his brother, Paul and his wife Linda of Tennessee, as well as his many nieces and nephews and their families.

Dad will always hold a special place in the hearts of his son, Brian and his wife, Denise, daughter Mary Ann and her husband, Lionel Romain, daughter Valerie and her husband, Bruce O'Donnell, and daughter Pamela Medeiros. Papa will be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren Caitlyn, John, Ashley, Kevin, Alysha, Cory, Amber and Natalie.

A memorial service was held in the Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs on Nov. 28. A private burial will be held at a later date. Donations in his memory can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 1332 North Halsted Street Suite 201, Chicago, Illinois 60622 www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

Vanessa J. Donoghue. Click photo for larger version.

Vanessa J. Donoghue

Vanessa J. (Costa) Donoghue of Hull, formerly of Martha's Vineyard, died on Nov. 10. She was born on Sept. 9, 1958 on Martha's Vineyard, and attended the Tisbury School and Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.

She was the beloved wife of 27 years to Michael J. Donoghue; loving mother of Christopher and Jennifer Donoghue, both of Hull; cherished daughter of Vivian and Joe Costa of Vineyard Haven, and loving sister of Lisa Costa of Atkinson, N.H., Brenda Costa of Marlborough, and Dennis Costa of Charleston, S.C. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Vanessa was a devoted wife and mother. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, her job at Noble's in Hingham, and life itself.

Donations may be made in Vanessa's name to the M.V. Cancer Support Group, P.O. Box 2214, Vineyard Haven, MA. 02568. For online condolences, visit keohane.com.

Margaret K. Lobdell. Click photo for larger version.

Margaret K. Lobdell

Margaret K. "Peggy" Lobdell was born August 8, 1921 in Bridgeport, Conn. She was the daughter of Stephen P. Kish and Margaret Lehman Kish. She died at home on November 26, surrounded by her family, after a long battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her husband, Howard J. Lobdell; and her sister, Veronica "Ronnie" Goddard of Albuquerque, N.M.

She is survived by her three sons and their wives, James H. and Virginia Lobdell of Tisbury, Kenneth A. and Karen Lobdell of West Tisbury, and Stephen A. and Deborah Lobdell of Fairfield, Conn.; as well as seven grandchildren, Darren, Kristin, Max, Jacob, Hannah, Matthew and Shannon Lobdell; five great grandchildren; and her brother, Stephen O. Kish of San Francisco, Calif. Peggy is also survived by her long time companion Peter Hryharrow.

Peggy attended Williams College School of Banking and worked in banking in Fairfield for 45 years progressing from administrative officer to branch manager. Her last position was at Fleet Bank in Fairfield. Upon her retirement, she summered in her cottage at the Plainville Campgrounds Association in Plainville, Conn., and wintered on Martha's Vineyard, where she was an active and well-loved member of the Martha's Vineyard Senior Center. Always a social person, she enjoyed learning bridge and Mah Jong, and was an avid and ferocious Scrabble player. She was a doting and devoted matriarch, and will be sadly missed by the entire Lobdell clan.

A memorial service on Martha's Vineyard will take place on Sunday, Dec. 2, from 1 to 3 pm at Chapman Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield Conn., at a date to be announced.

Judy Hatt died unexpectedly in her sleep on Nov. 25. She was 68 years old.

Judy was born in the town of Oak Bluffs on November 15, 1939, the daughter of Cornish Poole Hinckley and Doris West Hinckley. She was also welcomed by her brother Raymond "Buddy" Hinckley who was three years older. She grew up in the town of Tisbury forming friendships that would last a lifetime.

She was a student at the Tisbury School and active in the Girl Scouts. Sadly she lost her father in 1955, but went on to graduate from the Tisbury High School in 1957.

Judy had no doubt that she wanted to be a nurse and began attending the New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Boston in 1957. It was a three-year program of academics and working in the various hospitals around Boston. She worked diligently and received her certificate as a registered nurse in October of 1960.

Judy and some friends from nursing school decided to travel after completing their studies. They spent many months touring the entire continent of Europe. Judy took hundreds of photos of the journey and kept in touch with her mom via weekly postcards. She returned to Boston in 1961 to catch up with her family. She didn't sit still for long. This time her and her friends were off to live and work in Hawaii. Judy continued her education in Honolulu, passing her college boards while there, insuring her status as an R.N.

After a year in Hawaii, Judy returned to the Vineyard where she met Kenneth "Pete" Hatt of Springfield, Vt. The two were married and Judy gave birth to their first son, Eric, in 1963. Her mother died shortly thereafter. Judy began working at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital and she and Pete had two more sons, Peter in 1966, and Kevin in 1969. She and Kenneth divorced in 1972, but remained close until his death in 1992. By all accounts Judy was an excellent nurse. She had a very caring nature and you never heard her say a bad word about anyone. She worked very hard throughout her life, but always put her boys first. There was always an open door policy at Judy's house for any of her kids' friends, especially for holiday dinners. Any one who had nowhere else to go was always welcome. During the summer months when her kids were growing up, Judy would load as many kids as could fit into her car and take them all to State Beach or the drawbridge for a day of swimming or fishing or both. She always made time. She was an incredible baker and there was always the offer of a piece of pie to whoever stopped by her house.

Judy was the world's largest animal lover. She had several cats over the years. One, by the name of Blizzard, lived into her twenties as far as we can tell. Her dogs were her greatest companions. Of course, taking after Judy, her dogs and cats got along and would even sleep on the same couch together. You could always see Judy walking her dogs on Skiff Avenue and Lagoon Pond Road. She had three dogs in her lifetime; Barney, Brandy, and Roxie. All three lived to a ripe old age and had better lives than most people could hope for.

Judy continued working as a registered nurse until the late 80s when she became a visiting nurse. Her personality was perfect for the mostly elderly that she cared for. She was a great listener, and would often check in with them on her own time to make sure they had everything that they needed. Her brother Buddy died in 1988.

Judy retired from nursing altogether in the 1990s after developing arthritis in her hips. Just in time to enjoy becoming a grandmother. Judy was blessed with the arrival of her first grandchild, Edwin in 1997. She was thrilled. She had three more grandchildren, Kylie in 1999, Kenny in 2002, and Caleb in 2004. She enjoyed every birthday, holiday and countless family dinners and cookouts with her grandkids and they will miss her greatly.

Judy became a resident of the Henrietta Brewer House about four years ago. Having undergone hip replacement surgery, she could no longer drive and living alone became a concern. The staff and residents of the Brewer House were great friends to Judy as she was to them. We thank them for their compassion along with all of the other people on the Island who have been so kind and worked so hard on Judy's behalf in recent years, including Susan Desmarais.

Judy will be sorely missed by all who knew her. She always had a smile and no matter what she was going through, you never heard her complain. She was a wealth of knowledge about the Vineyard and never forgot a name. Always ready to laugh, her sense of humor was a welcome part of any visit. Even in what would appear to be the worst possible situation, she could laugh at herself and make you laugh at yourself, putting everything into perspective. You could make the biggest mistake in the world and she would never judge you. All Judy ever had were kind words and encouragement.

Her graveside service will be held on Friday, Nov. 30 at 11 am in Oak Grove Cemetery, State Road, Vineyard Haven officiated by the Rev. Roger Spinney. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, Nov. 29, from 6 to 8 pm, in Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. Donations may be made to the MSPCA of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2097, Edgartown, MA 02539. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

John E. Holmes, Jr.

John E. Holmes, Jr., 60, of Wareham, died on Nov. 21, in Boston. Mr. Holmes, who lived on the Vineyard for more than 15 years, was a talented metal worker, a great mentor, and a beloved friend and father. A full obituary will appear in a future edition of The Times.

Mark W. Immelt

Mark Wesley Immelt, 62, of Hamilton, Ohio and Martha's Vineyard, died unexpectedly on Nov. 25, at his home in Vineyard Haven.

Mark was born on September 22, 1945, in Columbus, Ohio, to the Rev. Robert and Betty Immelt. He grew up and was educated in Columbus and Millersburg, Ohio. Mark was a 1962 graduate of Millersburg High School and earned his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, in 1967. In 1974 Mark received his J.D.D from Cleveland Marshall Law School, Cleveland, Ohio. Mark also served in the United States Navy as part of the Medical Corps during the Vietnam War.

Mark spent nearly 40 years in the banking industry. Starting at Central National Bank, Cleveland, Ohio, he worked his way up to President and CEO of First Financial Bank of Ohio. He retired in December 2006 to spend time with family and friends in Hamilton, Ohio, his summer cottage in the Campgrounds and winter home in Vineyard Haven, and his cabin in Whitefish Falls, Canada.

Mark's philanthropic efforts and associations were many. He served as president of the South Bend Symphony, South Bend, Ind., President of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and President of the Fitton Center for the Creative Arts, both in Hamilton, Ohio, and was a member of the Ohio Bankers Association.

He sadly leaves behind his loving family, his wife of 39 years, Carol Butt Immelt; his daughter Alyssa Immelt Miller, her husband Burke and their three children, Mark's grandchildren, Abigail, Hannah, and Emily, of Hamilton, Ohio; his daughters Stephanie Immelt and Julie Immelt of Vineyard Haven; his parents, the Rev. Robert and Betty Immelt, of Edgartown; his brother Jay Immelt, his wife Helen and two children Johanna and her family, and Justin, all of Seattle, Washington; his sister Julie Immelt Wheeler, her husband Geoff and their son Andrew, of Villa Hills, Ky., and the Campground, Oak Bluffs; his mother-in-law Waneta Butt; his brother-in-law Norman Butt and sister-in-law Patti Butt and children Samuel and Charles, all of Oxford, Ohio; his aunt Ruth Immelt Anderson, of Oak Bluffs; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

His gentle and generous ways and nature, his wildly funny jokes, entertaining stories and renditions of his daily adventures, the romantic gestures he gave his wife daily, his hours of reading aloud the classics and games of Big Fish-Little Fish with his grandchildren, his daily "To Do" lists, and most especially his lucky "Fish Dance" during fishing outings, will be irreplaceable and sorely missed.

A memorial service for Mark will take place Saturday, Dec. 1, at 10:30 am at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mark's name to his favorite organizations: The Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, Tabernacle Fund, P.O. 1176, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; Martha's Vineyard Rod & Gun Club, Kids Trout Derby, P.O. Box 1799, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; and the Hamilton Community Foundation, 319 N. 3rd St., Hamilton OH 45011-1624. A memorial service will also take place in Hamilton, Ohio, at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.